The Charles O. Hayford State Fish Hatchery, more commonly known as the Hackettstown State Fish Hatchery, opened in 1912. The facility was responsible for
trout production up to 1981, when the Pequest Trout Hatchery took over coldwater production. Hackettstown's emphasis then turned to cool and warm water production.

The hatchery is currently responsible for the production and
distribution of 15
species of cool and warm water fish depending on annual
requests from the Division's regional
fisheries biologists.

The hatchery also raises gambusia (mosquitofish) to supply to
county mosquito control commissions. Annual production numbers
range from 1.5 to 2.5 million fish per year. (See summaries below.)

The hatchery is located in Hackettstown, Warren County,
along the banks of the Musconetcong River. The facility actually
has two separate components, the West Hatchery and the East
Hatchery that are situated, as their names imply, on the east
and west sides of Hackettstown.

The West or main segment (199 acres) consists of a large state
of the art fish culture facility, education center, and a 100-acre
extensive pond complex consisting of more than 60 earthen ponds.
These ponds range in size from .25-5 acres. The East Hatchery
(34 acres) is used for extensive production only consisting
of 40 earthen ponds, which range in size from .25-1 acre. The
main water supply for both hatcheries is 52-degree spring water
naturally bubbling out of the ground.

The education center at the hatchery is currently closed.

Hackettstown
Hatchery Feature Articles

See
the many articles penned by Superintendent Craig Lemon and others
to learn more about operations - and the fish - raised at Hackettstown.